SECRET CHARMER
A stylized, fresh approach to new music. Songwriter, and the man behind SECRET CHARMER, Mike Sweeney fleshes out full sized sound from a small room. Taking his favorite tones of now and the sixties and artfully tossing them in the blender. The result is a rare take on Pop/Folk music. It's a sonic picture that is painted with vocal harmony and reverb. A trademark over all of the tracks is his use of echo. It is a youthful but retro take on a wall of sound approach to recording. The gift of curiosity has left Sweeney on an endless search for different tone for his songs. A constant carousel of instruments and microphones flow in and out of his apartment. The recording location for both of his demo EP's. 2011's "The Little Home". Which was his first batch of songs that were written after leaving the Boston based rock band, I'm Sorry New York. Recorded with two guitars, a single microphone, a tambourine, and a shaker. The debut EP of Lo-Fi folk songs showed that he had a true passion for writing and shaping music on his own. Over the next few years, the songwriter played several acoustic shows across the city of Boston and the South Shore of Massachusetts where he grew up. All the while, acquiring ideas, influences, and instruments to inspire his next EP. In June of 2013, Sweeney hand folded and stamped the covers for the echoing "Same Town". A five song, retro sounding pop record. The EP easily could set the musical landscape for a romantic/ tragic indie film where guy loses girl. Triumphant ballads that are dripping in reverb across the half hour of beautiful music. You can hear his confidence as a song writer grow over the course of the last few years. A uniquely dynamic sound on the record. However, a strong, solid performer acoustically. He prefers to stay genuinely unplugged for candid performances. No amplifiers and no microphones. Your typical day at the apartment would be sure to provide several covers by his favorite writers and his originals. Lit only by Christmas lights and candles. A room filled with cigar smoke and Budweiser cans. And somewhere in the middle, there would be the sarcastically funny songwriter, taking a break from the conversation to slip into a song and completely quiet the room for a few minutes. A genuine singer and guitarist who wants nothing more than to just play a few for anyone willing to listen. In my opinion, you should. Tracks like "Good Town Gone" and "Turn On You" show his growing concern for the changes that have befallen the town he grew up in. His distaste for changing the beautiful surroundings that he loves. Also quietly serene instrumentals like "Ticker Tape" and "A Grand Wake for Francis" would gladly grace any springtime drive through the suburb he misses and wishes didn't change.